GREAT SCOTT TAKES INDY POLE

Scott Dixon has taken Pole position for the 101st Indianapolis 500 in final Qualifying on Sunday.

The New Zealander completed his first three laps over 232mph lost a little on his last, but still posted an average speed of 232.164mph to seal prime position for next week’s American classic.

That was the fastest four-lap qualifying attempt since Arie Luyendyk’s record pole run in 236.986mph with a stock block engine in the 1990s.

Dixon, who has started from pole twice before, said that he did not know where his speed came from.

“We knew the conditions were much better today and we took a little bit of a gamble by trimming [it] out,” he said.

“When I saw that first lap I was a little bit shocked myself.”

As many expected Honda dominated the Fast Nine, but a Chevrolet engine will line up second. Ed Carpenter Qualified second with an average of 231.664mph, and will have fellow American Alexander Rossi alongside.

The defending winner said that “It was harder than yesterday. It was OK but not great, I would be pretty frustrated to miss it [pole] by that much.”

“I think the car was better that yesterday with the balance,” said the McLaren driver. “I think I lost a little bit of speed in the main straight.

Alonso qualifies fifth for Indy 500 – Photo: LAT

Alonso said that he got loose in Turn 2 on “every singe lap!

“The place is the biggest race in thew world and I felt that the first time I came here and the circuit was empty! Now I think it is even more amazing.”

JR Hildebrand is sixth fastest, ahead of Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti and Will Power. The Australian appeared to struggle with the conditions and was the only Penske driver to make it to the last nine positions.

“That was all we had,” the Queenslander admitted after the session. “It’s a long race…”